UNEMPLOYMENT across Bolton has fallen by just under 4.8 per cent, new figures have revealed.

The number of jobless locally in August fell to 4,604 from 4,961 the previous month.

The unemployment rate stands at three per cent of the available working population compared to the regional average of 2.5 per cent - 2.3 per cent nationally Included in the figures released yesterday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is a big drop in the 18 to 24-year-olds jobless rate.

“We are delighted the figures have gone down, but we are particularly pleased about the large fall in youth unemployment compared to last year,” said Jobcentre manager for Bolton, Trish Hallows. “There are a number of things we are doing to encourage and support young people back into work.

“There has been a big investment locally into apprenticeships and our volu7ntary work experience programme has proved very successful.

“We’ve got lots of employers on board offering work experience opportunities to 18 to 24-year-olds and we have found, from that, they often get offers of work with the employer they are placed with, or others, as a result of their willingness to work.”

Ms Hallows said that throughout September the Jobcentre had launched a Feeding Britain’s Future campaign.

“Its aim to get employers in the food supply chain to open their doors to young people to let them see how the food industry works. These include supermarkets, food manufacturers and distributors.”

Bolton West MP Julie Hilling welcomed the figures but sounded a word of caution over the news, questioning whether the newly-employed were on zero hours contracts or part time.

Her views were echoed by Bolton North East MP David Crausby, who said: “I am pleased the jobless figures are down, particularly as far as young people are concerned.

“But the truth is, it’s about time. This downturn in the economy started in 2008 and it must be the longest one in history.”